Politics deeply embedded in Emanuel Jieng Parish
5 min readBy Maker Garang Makol, Juba, South Sudan
December 3, 2015 (SSB) — I have to admit I was so shocked to hear that Rebecca Nyandeng Mabior attended church service at Emanuel Jieng Parish, just after two days after arriving to Juba, South Sudan with some members of the so called G-10+. What is wrong with this woman? Doesn’t she think?
Why is everybody throwing stones at the innocent woman who was not happy with the idea of the pastor-in charge praying for Nyandeng? From my credibly source and confirmed by the church’s press release, the woman protested said that Nyandeng is not to be prayed for; because she is not coming back to Juba for peace. If she is, she said, why didn’t she come with her son, Mabior Garang?
Therefore, we now know that Nyandeng wasn’t attacked. Can anyone with a rational mind explain to me the sin committed by the poor woman?
First, the pastor-in-charge, Joseph Maker Achiek, was the culprit in this case. The pastor caused the mess. I have prayed in Emanuel Jieng Parish a number of times and I had the opportunity to listen to the word of God from Joseph Maker Achiek. Reverend Joseph Maker is a good man of God.
However, I think the pastor was tempted on that particular day. I am having hard times trying to put together how and why the pastor came to a conclusion that Nyandeng needed to be prayed for by the bishop?
After reading the press release from the office of the pastor-in-charge, there are so many questions that could be asked? First, why was it the responsibility of the good pastor to decide that Nyandeng needed prayers?
“I as a pastor-in-charge, I decided to call them forward to be prayed for by the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Justin Badi, the Bishop of Diocese Maridi, for sure the lady came to me and said that Mama Rebecca should not be prayed for unless she brings her son. She was convinced and taken out by ushers and the prayers continued as usual,” the press statement reads partly.
Good God! I thought a member of any church has to request for prayer. Was Nyandeng sick and needed some spiritual healing? Or was the almighty God being asked to forgive Nyandeng for her sins that she committed in regard to the 2013 crisis that has pulled the very innocent country of South Sudan to her knees?
Why was the woman taken out of the church for speaking out her mind about Nyandeng? What sin did she commit that Nyandeng didn’t commit? And if she committed sin, why was she not forgiven and prayed for like Nyandeng? Isn’t Emanuel Jieng like a river which takes everything without denial of each other? Why then deny the woman her right to pray or her right to be forgiven? Do I need to continue asking more questions?
The church press release also mentioned that the church administration went to Nyandeng Mabior’s house to preach the word of God and pray with her family a day or so before Sunday. Was the church invited by Nyandeng? Or did the church just wanted to welcome back one VIP/member of the Church? I don’t know? Something is smelly here.
The answers to the above questions make Emanuel Jieng Parish the culprit. Those who attend Emanuel Jieng parish know that this house of God is embedded with politics. Leather chairs for the VIPs at Emanuel Jieng? Nyandeng Mabior owns one good/expensive leather chair at Emanuel Jieng Parish. What I don’t know is who have been sitting in her chair for the last two years she’s been in Nairobi?
I understand she bought her own chair and a special spot was designated for her in the front rows. There you have it! One needs not be a rocket scientist to understand why the poor woman who questioned the church was thrown out of the church for exercising her right to free speech. Where is justice here? The church definition of VIP is mind boggling. Are all members not equal in the eyes of the lord at Emanuel Jieng Parish? All in all, the house of God got itself in a mess.
I personally believe that Nyandeng should have not rushed to Emanuel Jieng Parish. Nyandeng should have known that some members of the church who lost their loved ones will not be happy to see her? It is all about ignorance, right? Nyandeng knows how some innocent women like her were killed in the church and hospital in Bor.
Believe it or not, she has a hand in the lives of those poor women. So, the woman who asked the pastor-in-charge not to pray for Nyandeng did not committed any sin whatsoever. Please leave the poor woman alone. She did not commit any sin. Jesus please be the judge!
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